Machine for sealing envelops.



Patented Apr. I0,VI900..

F. B. CANUDE. MACHINE FUR SEALING ENVELOPS.

(Application filed Feb. 8, 1900.)

3'Shaet's-Sheat I.

,(No Model.

Witnesses 0 i @mi Attys.

TME Nonms vereis oouPHnTD-umo. wAsmmnToN4 n. c.

Patented Apr. lt),y |900. F. B. cANoDE. MACHINE FOR SEALING ENVELUPS.

(Application Bled. Feb. 8, 1900.)

'3 Sheets-fSheet 2.

(No Model.)

No. 647,248. Patented Apr. 1o, |900.

F. B. CANDDE. MACHINE FOR SEALNG ENVELUPS.

(Application led Feb. 8,'1900.) (No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Witnesses: Inventor A ttys.

Nirnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK B. CANODE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO TIIE A. B.

` DICK COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

lVlAC-HINE FOR SEALING ENVELOPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 647,248, dated April 10, 1900.

` Application filed February 8, 1900. Serial No. 4,438. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, FREDERICK B. CANODE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Machines for Sealing Envelops, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvement-s in machines for sealing envelops; and the object of the invention is to provide a simple machine for the purpose capableof effectively sealing envelops with great rapidity. The machine 'is therefore especially adapted for use in commercial establishments wherein large numbers of circular-letters require to be sealed.

Broadly stated, my improved machine comprises a reciprocating combined feeding' and moistening carriage arranged to engage beneath the flaps of a pile of envelops in such a way as to cause a moistened surface on said carriage to be brought into engagement with the adhesive substance on the iiaps, the successive reciprocations of the carriage causing the envelops to be removed from the pile one at a time and simultaneously to be properly moistened, means being employed to cause the envelops lo be automatically maintained in the proper position to be engaged successively and removed from the pile by the said feeding and moistening carriage and additional means being used to apply pressure to the moistened flap of each of the envelops after they have been removed from the pile and to maintain such pressure forasuftlcient i time to insure the effective sealing of the envelops.

The preferred construction of combined feeding and moistening carriage comprises a reciprocating head traveling horizontally in suitable guides and carrying at its rear end a Well containing water, said head being provided on its upper face with a moisteningsurface, made, preferably, of felt or felt-like material, which is supplied with water from the well by capillary attraction, and the head being provided at its forward end with a feeding-finger which vengages beneath the iiap of the envelop on the top of the pile. In order that the flap of the envelop may be brought into effective contact with the moistened surface of the carriage when the said feed-linger, together with the front portion of the reciprocatin g head, is introduced beneath the Hap, I prefer to employ a suitable pressure-foot, which slides over the flap as the envelop is fed offof the pile by the movement of the feeding and moistening carriage, and means are preferably employed in connection with said pressure-foot to maintain it in an elevatcd position upon the return movement of the carriage, so that the pressure-foot will not bearvagainst the meistenin'g-surface,which engagement, if it did take place, Would tend to force the water toward the forward end of such surface, and thereby destroy the desira able uniformity of distribution of water.

The preferred mechanism which I employ for maintaining the envelops in a vertical pile and for presenting them successively to the action of the combined feeding and moistening carriage comprises a vertically-movable platen on which the envelops are placed, flap upward and opening toward the feedingcarriage, said platen being spring-pressed vertically, so as to maintain the upper envelop in the pile in contact with a pair of flat fingers, which extend about one-half of the width of the envelop and over which the carriage reciprocates, the envelops being maintained with their upper or flap edges in engagement with a suitable guide or guides having a curved upper edge, over which the envelops are passed one at a time by the movement of the feeding-carriage. When the feed-finger on the carriage is combined with means for elevating it during the feed movement of the carriage, as is preferable, the upper edge of the guide orguides against which the pile of envelops is held is located an appreciable distance above the normal plane of the uppermost envelop, whereby the elevation of the feed-finger after it has engaged within the flap of the envelop will carry the latter up and over the said curved edge. This removes any possibility of more than one envelop being fed at a time by the movement of the reciprocating carriage and also allows the machine to operate with envelops the contents of which may vary within considerable limits.

The means which I prefer to employ for applying pressure to the envelop after it has been moistened and fed off of the pile by t-he carriage comprise a series of rollers with which coperates a traveling endless belt, the latter being made conveniently of ordinary sheet-rubber, whereby the moistened envelop will be passed flap foremost between the belt and one of said rollers to receive the desired pressure. The belt is made long enough and the rollers are so proportioned as to maintain this pressure on the flap for a sufficient time to allow the flap to be effectively sealed. Provision is made in the pressure-applying means for accommodating envelops of varying thicknesses. Although the envelops after they have been successively fed off of the pile by the movements of the feeding and moistening carriage may be fed directly to the pressure-applying means of any type, l prefer to interpose between the carriage and the latter means additional devices for receiving the envelop delivered by the carriage and advancing it into contact with the pressure-applying devices, the purposes and advantages of which will be clear from a consideration of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

In order thatmy invention may be better understood, attention is directed to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention in its preferred form; Fig. 2, a longitudinal sectional View thereof; Fig. 3, a plan view, and Fig. 4 an enlarged vertical section through the head of the reciprocating carriage.

In all of the above views corresponding parts are represented by the same numerals of reference.

1 lare the side frames of the machine, suitably strengthened by cross-braces 2. The framework thus formed may be supported upon rubber feet 3. Mounted in suitable bearings in the frames 1 is a shaft 4, carrying a drum 5. Cooperating with this drum are two rollers 6 6,the shafts of which are mounted in slotted bearings 7 7. y

8 is an endless belt passed over the rollers 6 6 and bearing on a part of the periphery of the drum 5. This belt is preferably made of sheet-rubber and is under sufficient tension to apply the desired pressure to the envelop. By mounting the shafts of the rollers 6 6 in slotted bearings, as shown, said rollers may move longitudinally in said bearings to accommodate dierent thicknesses of envelops.

A crank 9 is secured to the shaft 4 at one side to rotate the drum 5 and the belt 8 and rollers 6 by friction. Carried by the other end of the shaft 4 is a crank ,10, which connects by a pitman 11 with a reciprocating arm 12, keyed at its lower end to a rock-shaft 13, mounted in bearings in the frames 1 1. The other end of the rock-shaft 13 carries a reciprocating arm 14, which corresponds in all respects with the arm 12. These arms obviously reciprocate in unison and are designed to effect the movement of the combined feeding and moistening carriage referred to. This carriage comprises a reciprocating head 15, having antifriction-rollers 16 16, which move in slotted ways 17 in the upper part of the side frames 1. The arms 12 and 14 are provided with slotted bearings 18 at their upper ends, with which bearings a roller 19 engages. The roller 19 at each side may be mounted on the same pin as one of the antif'riction-rollers 16, as shown. The upper face of the head 15 is preferably inclined, as shown, and carries a moistening-surface 20, which is made, preferably, of two layers of felt or felt-like material 21 with a central layer of perforated sheet metal 22 between them, as shown in Fig. 4. At the back of the head 15 is a well 23, containing water, which is supplied to the moisteningfsurface 2O by a wick 24, as shown. The well 23 may be provided with a small cover 25, closing an opening therein, through which water may be introduced from time to time.

26 is a rock-shaft which is mounted in 'bearings at the forward edge of the reciprocating head 15, and said rock-shaft carries a feedfinger 27, sufficiently wide to eect the proper engagement beneath the ap of the uppermost envelop. The rock-shaft 26 is provided near one or both sides'with a cam-finger 28, beneath which a spring 28 engages to normally depress the feed-finger 27 into engagement with the uppermost envelop. The side frames 1 1 carry plates 29, with which the cam finger or fingers 28 engage at the proper moment to elevate the feed-flnger 27, as will be explained.

Mounted in bearings on each of the side frames 1 is a rock-shaft 30, from which extend arms 3l, carrying a pressure-foot 32 at their forward ends. A spring 33 tends to turn the rock-shaft 30 and to thereby exert a downward stress upon the pressure-foot. At one end of the rock-shaft 3() is a cam 34, having a shoulder 35 therein, with which a latch 36 may engage in the operation, said latch being normally impelled toward the cam 34 by a spring 37. A pin 3S, carried by the reciprocating head 15, engages the latch 36 near the end of the backward movement of the reciprocating head 15 to disengage said latch from the shoulder 35. The pin 38, as shown in Fig. 3, is provided with a horizontal inturned upper portion which engages the latch 36 above the pivot thereof.

39 represents a vertically-movable platen, upon which are placed a number of envelops 40 in a vertical pile, each envelop being flap uppermost and with the flap or upper edge facing toward the drum 5. The platen 39 is guided vertically by means of guides 4l and is impelled upward by a spring 42, which is connected to a lever 43 on a rock-shaft 44, having two arms 45, which are connected by links 46 to the platen 39. The platen 39 works in IOO IIO

close proximity to one or more guides 47, which are vertically arranged in the machine and which are provided with a curved upper edge 4S. The guide may be a series of dat vertical fingers arranged side by side or a single fiat vertical plate secured to the side frames 1 and to one of the cross-braces 2, or it may be composed of a number of vertical guide-fingers secured to a guide-plate near their upper ends. This latter is the con struction which isillustratedin the drawings, The curved upper edge of the guide 47, in which expression I include any mechanical device or devices for guiding the envelops in their vertical movement,is preferably arranged with respect to the pressure-foot 32 so that when the sliding reciprocating head l5 is moved backward to the position shown in Fig. 2 to its full extent said pressure-foot will bear upon said edge. The upward movement of the envelops carried by the platen 39 may be limited by the reciprocatinghead l5; but such a construction would not be desirable, as the return movement of the head might tend to dislodge the uppermost envelop. I therefore prefer to employ a pair of flat horizontal fingers 49, which are secured to the rear upper cross-brace 2 and which extend approximately half-way of the width of the envelops. By employing these fingers the forward portion of the envelop will by reasonof the elasticity of the pile tend to be elevated slightly, so that the feed-finger 27 will be always brought into engagement beneath the flap in the operation. As the reciprocating head l5 is moved forward, carrying the envelop with it, the pressure-foot` 32 will engage with the Hap of the envelop and with the moistening-surface 20, so as to be elevated to the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2. This movement rocks the shaft 30 and may be relied upon to bring the shoulder 35 beneath the latch 36. I prefer, however, to employ a cam or cams 50, which are carried by the reciprocating head 15 and which engage the ends of a rod 5l, carried by the pressure-foot, so that near the completion of the forward movement of the head l5 the cams 50 will engage the rod 5l, and thereby elevate the pressure-foot from contact with the moistening-surface of the head.

While, as I have stated, the top envelop after it has been fed off of the pile by the movement of the reciprocating head may be directed to the pressure devices, yet I prefer to employ for this purpose two sets or pairs of feed-rollers 52 52, which may be thick rubber rings carried by the shafts 53 53. The

bearings for the upper shaft are slotted, as,

shown, so as to accommodate different thicknesses of envelops. The shafts 53 are preferably simultaneously driven from each other by gears 54, and said shafts are driven by a pair of belts 55, running over reduced portions 56, formed on the adjacent roll 6, as shown. The parts are so proportioned that the peripheral speed of the rollers 52 is higher than that` of the pressure-belt 8.

The machine may be provided with a guide 57, for guiding the sealed envelops after they have left the machine, and with a handle 5S, by which one of the levers 45 may be drawn down to depress the platen 39 when a new pile of envelops is to bc placed thereon.

The operation of the machine described is as follows: Power being applied to the handle 9 to rotate the drum 5, the endless belt 8 and the rollers G 6 Will be driven byV friction and the feed-rollers 52 52 will be driven from the belts 55 and gears 54. These parts turn constantly in the direction of the arrows. The rotation of the shaft 4 reciprocates the arms l2 and 14 to carry the head 15 from the position shown in full lines to that shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2. A number of envelops are placed on the platen 39, and the uppermost envelop of the pile will be kept in contact with Athe flat fingers 49, with the flap uppermost. On the rear movement of the reciprocatin g carriage the feed-finger 27 presses down over the ap; but on the return movement of said carriage the said finger will engage beneath the ap until the finger strikes the forward or upper edge of the envelop Within the ap. At this moment the camingers 28 engage the plates 29, so as to elevate the feed-finger 27, and thereby elevate the forward edge of the envelop above the curved edge of the guide 47. The continued movement forward of the carriage causes the iap to be passed beneath the pressure-foot 32, which will be elevated, and the pressure of that foot will force the adhesive portion of the flap into intimate engagement with the moistening-surface. The end of the forward movement of the carriage brings the feedfinger 27 between the two sets of feed-rollers 52, which engage the envelop on both sides of the feed-finger and draw the envelop on' of and away from the feeding-carriage and feed it between the belt S and the drum 5,

IOO

IIO

which elements carry the envelop out of the Y machine and apply pressure to the ap in transit, so as to effectively seal it. Near the end of the forward movement of the reciprocating head 15 the pressure-foot will be elevated sufficiently, either by lreason of the incline of the upper surface of the head or by reason of the cams 50, if used, to bring the shoulder 35 beneath the latch 36, which will then be drawn by the spring 37 into `engagement with said shoulder. 'This engagement locks the pressure-foot in an elevated position during the rearward movement of the carriage and prevents the pressure-foot from pressing upon the moistened surface 20, and thereby destroying the even distribution of Water on that surface. On the return movement of the reciprocating head l5 the feedfinger 27 will be released by the disengagement of the cam-fingers 28 with the plates 29, and will press upon the next envelopA presented, so that upon the next forward stroke of the carriage that envelop will be moistened and fed off of the pile, as explained` Near the end of this return stroke of the carriage the pin 38 strikes the latch 36, disengaging it from the shoulder 35, and permits the pressure-foot to once again descend, so as to apply pressure to the flap as the flap passes beneath it.

y Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secu re by Letters Patent, is as follows:

I. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination of means for supporting envelops in a pile, ilap outermost, a reciprocating moistening and feeding carriage movable with respect to the outer envelop of the pile,where by the said carriage may engage beneath the flap of the outermost envelop and apply moisture thereto, means for moving said carriage so as to withdraw the engaged envelop from the pile, and means for subsequently applying pressure tothe flap, substantially as set forth.

2. In an envelop-sealin g machine, the combination of means for supporting envelops in a pile, flap outermost, a reciprocating moistening and feeding carriage movable with respect to the outer envelop of the pile,where by the said carriage may engage beneath the flap of the outermost envelop and apply moisture thereto, means for moving said carriage so as to Withdraw the engaged envelop from the pile, and means cooperating with the reciprocatin g carriage for automatically applying pressure to the flap, substantially as set forth.

3. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination of means for supporting envelops in a pile, iiap outermost, a reciprocating mois tening and feeding carriage movable with respect to the outer envelop of the pile,wl1ere by the said carriage may engage beneath the flap of the outermost envelop and apply moisture thereto, means for moving said carriage so as to withdraw the engaged envelop from the pile, pressure devicesfor applying pressure to the flap delivered by said carriage, and intermediate mechanism for withdrawing the envelop from the carriage and depositing it into the pressure-applying devices, substantially as set forth.

4. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination of means for supporting envelops in a pile, flap outermost, a reciprocating moistenin g and feeding carriage movable with respect to the outer envelop of the pile,where by the said carriage may engage beneath the flap of the outermost envelop and apply moisture thereto, means for moving said carriage so as to withdraw the engaged envelop from the pile, means for subsequently applying pressure to the flap, and a spring-pressed feed-linger carried by said carriage for engaging beneath the flap of the outermost envelop, substantially as set forth.

5. In an envelop-sealing machine, the com bination of means for supporting envelops in a pile, flap outermost, a reciprocating moistenin g and feeding carriage movable with respect to the outer envelop of the pile, where# by the said carriage mayengage beneath the flap of the outermost envelop and apply moisture thereto, means for moving said carriage so as to withdraw the engaged envelop from the pile, means for subsequently applying pressure to the flap, a spring-pressed feed-iin ger carriedby said carriage for engaging beneath the flap of the outermost envelop, and means for elevating said linger during the forward stroke of the carriage, substantially as set forth.

6. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination of means for supporting envelops in a pile, flap outermost, a reciprocating moistening and feeding carriage movable with respect to the outer envelop of the pile, whereby the said carriage may engage beneath the flap of the outermost envelop and apply moisture thereto, means for moving said carriage so as to Withdraw the engaged envelop from the pile, means for subsequently applying pressure to the flap, a spring-pressed feed-finger carried by said carriage for engaging beneath the flap of the outermost envelop, a cam-finger connected to the feed-linger, and

Va stationary plate with which the cam-finger engages to elevate the feed-fingerduring the forward stroke of the carriage, substantially as set forth.

7. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination of means for supporting envelops in a pile, flap outermost, a reciprocating moisteningI and feeding carriage movable with respect to the outer envelop of the pile, Whereby the said carriage may engage beneath the iap ot' the outermost envelop and apply moisturethereto, means for moving said carriage so as to withdraw the engaged envelop from the pile, means for subsequently applying pressure to the flap, and a spring-pressed pressure-foot cooperating with the carriage for forcing the engaged flap into contact with the moisteniug-surface of the carriage, substantially as set forth.

8. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination of means for supporting envelops in a pile, flap outermost, a reciprocating. moistening and feeding carriage movable with respect to the outer envelop of the pile, whereby the said carriage may engage beneath the iap of the outermost envelop and apply moisture thereto, means for moving said carriage so as to withdraw the engaged envelop from the pile, means for subsequently applying pressure to the flap, a spring-pressed pressure-foot cooperating with the carriage for -forcing the engaged flap into contact with the moisteningsurface of the carriage,and means for locking the pressure-foot in an elevated position at the completion of the forward movement of the carriage and for unlocking the pressure-foot at the completion of the return movement of the carriage, substantially as set forth.

9. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination of means for supporting envelops in IOO IIO

a vertical pile and for impelling the pile vertically upward, a pair of fiat fingers for engaging the uppermost envelop and limiting its ascent, and a reciprocating feeding and moistening carriage and means for moving the same, whereby the carriage may engage with its forward edge beneath the flap of the uppermost envelop to force the latter horizontally off the pile, substantially as set forth.

10. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination of means for supporting envelops in a vertical pile and for impelling the pile vertically upward, a pair of fiat nu gers for engaging the uppermost envelop and limiting its ascent, a reciprocating feeding and meistenin g carriage and means for moving the same, whereby the carriage may engage with its forward edge beneath the Hap of the uppermost envelop to force the latter horizontally off of the pile, and a spring-pressed pressure-foot for applying pressure to the flap of the uppermost envelop to engage it with the moistening-surface of the carriage, substantially as set forth.

1l. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination of means for supporting envelops in a vertical pile and for impelling the pile vertically upward, a pair of flat fingers for engaging the uppermost envelop and limiting its ascent, a reciprocating feeding and meistening carriage and means for moving the same, whereby the carriage may engage with its for- Ward edge beneath the iiap of the uppermost envelop to force the latter horizontally off of the pile, a `spring-pressed pressure-foot for applying pressure to the flap of the uppermost envelop to engage it with the moistening-surface of the carriage, and means cooperating with the carriage for applying pressure to the envelop after it has been fed olf of the pile by the movement of the carriage, substantially as set forth.

12. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination of means for supporting a number of envelops in a vertical pile, flap uppermost, a reciprocating carriage the forward edge of which engages beneath the iiap of the uppermost envelop, a moistening-surface carried by said carriage, and a Water-Well reciprocating with the carriage and supplying water to said surface, substantially as set forth.

13. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination of means for supporting a number of envelops in a vertical pile, flap uppermost, a reciprocating carriage the forward edge of which engages beneath the flap of the uppermost envelop, a moistening-surface carried by said carriage, a Water-well reciprocating with the carriage and supplying water to said surface, and a pressure-foot for applying -pressure to the Hap to force it into engagement with the moistening-surface, substantially as set forth.

14. In an envelop-sealing machine, the com,- bination of a vertically movable springpressed platen carrying a pile of envelops flap uppermost, a guide mounted adjacent to the platen for guiding the iiap or upper end of said envelops, and a reciprocating feeding and moistening carriage arranged to engage beneath the flap of the uppermost envelop to thereby carry the engaged envelop `over the upper edge of said guide, substantially as set forth.

15. In an en velop-sealing machine, the combination of a vertically movable springpressed platen carrying a pile of envelops iiap uppermost, a guide mounted adjacent to the platen for guiding the liap or upper end of said envelops, a reciprocating feeding and moistening carriage arranged to engage beneath the iiap of the uppermost envelop to thereby carry the engaged envelop over the upper edge of said guide, and a feed-finger mounted on said carriage for engaging said flap, substantially as set forth.

1G. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination of a vertically movable springpressed platen carryin ga pile of envelops flap uppermost, a guide mounted adjacent to the platen for guiding the flap or upper end of said4 envelops, a reciprocating feeding and moistening carriage arranged to engage beneath the iiap of the uppermost envelop to thereby carry the engaged envelop over the upper edge of said guide, a feed-fin ger mounted on said carriage for engaging said iiap, and means for elevating said finger during the forward stroke of the carriage to carry the envelop up and over the upper edge of the guide, substantially as set forth.

17. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination of a spring-pressed platen carrying a vertical pile of envelops flap uppermost, a vertical guide adjacent to said platen, [iat restraining-lingers. for limiting the upward movement of the pile,and a reciprocating'combined feeding and moistening carriage reciprocating over the pile and arranged to engage beneath the flap of the uppermost envelop, substantially as set forth.

18. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination of a spring-pressed platen carrying a vertical pile of envelops flap uppermost, a vertical guide adjacent to said platen, flat restrainingfingers for limiting the upward movement of the pile, a reciprocating combined feeding and moistening carriage reciprocating over the pile and arranged to engage beneath the iiap of the uppermost envelop, and means for applying pressure to the e11- velopremoved from the pile by the movement of said carriage, substantially as set forth.

19. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination of a spring-pressed platen carrying a vertical pile of envelops flap uppermost, a vertical guide adjacent to said platen, fiat restrainingiingers for limiting the upward movement of the pile, a reciprocating combined feeding and moisteniug carriage reciprocating-over the pile and arranged to engage beneath the flap of the uppermost envelop, means for applying pressure to the envelop removed from the pile by the movement of IOO IIO

said carriage, and connections between the pressure-applying devices and said carriage, whereby Said devices will move in unison, substantially as set forth. v

20. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination of a drum to which power is applied, an endless belt cooperating with said drum, means yfor supporting a vertical pile of envelops flap uppermost, a reciprocating combined feeding and moistening carriage for moistening the ap of the uppermost envelop and simultaneously removing it from the pile, and connections between the drum and said carriage, substantially as set forth.

21. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination of a drum to which power is applied, an endless belt cooperating with said drum, means for supporting a vertical pile of envelops flap uppermost, a reciprocating combined feeding and moistening carriage for moistening the flap of the uppermost envelop and simultaneously removingit from the pile, connections between the drum and said carringe, and feed-rollers located between the and feed-rolls for receiving the envelop re' moved from the pile by the carriage, said rolls being separated by a greater extent than the length of said finger, whereby the finger may carry the envelop into actual contact with the feed-rolls, substantially as set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 3d day of February, 1900.

FREDERICK. B. CANODE.

lVitnesses:

GEORGE E. BENDER, A. B. DICK. 

